Outside Front Cover

FALL 2014 Vol. 3 / Issue 1

DRAWINGON THE WALLS

Clawmagazine

also:

A Greeley graffi ti artist uses colorful spray paints to brighten the city’s once-dark alleyways.

Birthday BashUNC celebrates its 125th Anniversary 4

Teacher FeatureDan Obluda makes his mark on campus 16

Adjusting the ScopeChange the way you look at campus 22

Clawmagazine

Inside Front Cover

Hi! And welcome,to the new

We’ve done a bit of a refresh! We hope you like our updated look and be sure to catch us again Spring 2015!

We made it to November without the season’s fi rst

snow. Leaves took longer to fall and The Claw took longer to hit the campus shelves. But here we are, a fresh, shiny magazine with fresh, shiny con-tent, kicking off our third year with a redesign. This year marks a milestone for us. We’re no longer a stu-dent club, but a publication of the Student Media Corporation. We’re out to push our limits and make a name for ourselves, and we can’t do that without you. So my fi rst thank you goes out to you, our readers, who make an eff ort to pick up this magazine and thumb through the pages. Without you, student media cannot exist. Without you, we can’t explore this amaz-ing community like we have in this issue. We’ve expanded our content

to cover Greeley, not just the campus, and starting now we’ll be featuring a diff erent student band and a diff erent UNC teach-er every semester. My second thank you goes to The Claw’s amazing production and design team: Dakotah, Na-talie, Manny, Mohammed and Trystin. After a week’s worth of long nights, Harry Potter movies in the newsroom and giggling over lack of sleep and InDesign fi nd-and-replace fails, you guys have put together what I’d like to think is the best issue we’ve had yet. And just like we’re improv-ing, our awesome university is always improving, too. They’ve made an eff ort to make dorms more fun by allowing pets, which you can read about on page 6. Even after a 125-year run, which we celebrate on page 4, UNC’s got outstanding profes-sors like Dan Obluda, featured on page 16, amazing outreach programs for students who struggle with disabilities, like the writer who shares her ex-perience on page 8, and the exchange students featured on page 20. As we look at campus anew on page 26, look at The Claw anew, too, and support your stu-dent media.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Editor in Chief: Awnna EvansCopy Editors: Tara N. Cady, Amy Yoelin Graphic Design Chief: Dakotah IntrigliaPhotography Chief: Natalie StackerAdvertising/Sales Manager: Hannah Crowley

Writers:Zach BlackburnAnna BohrenTanner BrownleeKaty EastShelby FosterYe-In MorrisLaura Muff Amy Yoelin

Graphic Designers:Mohammed Al NemerDakotah IntrigliaManny PérezTrystin SmithNatalie Stacker

Photographers:Anna BohrenZach JonesYe-In MorrisNatalie Stacker

Ad Representatives:Hannah CrowleyAmanda Rogers

PR Representatives:Amanda MulnixTory Orozco

General Manager:Matt Lubich

Student Media Corporation823 16th StreetGreeley, CO 80631(970) 392-9270

The Claw is a publication of the Student Media Corporation.

About the Claw

Editor@uncclawmagazine.comUNCOEntertainmentMag

@UNCClawMagazine

STAFF

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On the Cover:

Student Lifestyle:

The Art Scene:

On Campus:

Fall 2014 Volume 3 Issue 1Contents

Light in the Dark Spaces 11A local graffiti artist helps to brighten Greeley one spray can at a time.

Birthday Bash 4UNC celebrates a major milestone: Its 125th year.

Teacher Feature 16Dan Obluda makes an impact on the lives of UNC music students.

Breaking the Silence 8How one student deals with a disability in college.

Off-Campus Jazz 10Jazz students spice up Northern Colorado.

Stepping Onto Fresh Soil 20Students from foreign countries experience America through UNC.

PVA Preview 24UNC’s College of Performing and Visual Arts presents...

Pets on Campus? 6Students compare opinions on allowing pets in the dorms.

Hypnotic Vibes 14A local band entrances students with unique music.

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Adjusting the Scope 22Ways to see campus from a different point of view.

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125125125

UNC 125th

Anniversary

UNC celebrates its 125th anniversary this aca-demic year. The university, founded in 1889, has gone through numerous changes as a

teachers’ college, a state school and a successful diverse university.

“125 years really establishes a university and I’m proud to be a part of it,” said Jonica Jurgens, a junior special education major and senior resident assistant for Presidents’ Row. “The university’s val-ues match mine as a student.”

“[I] came for the teaching program but stayed for the people here,” fellow senior RA Elisabeth Coco said. The RAs agreed that the University of Northern Colorado is not only great because of its values but also because of its students and the community the university has built, especially within the Hous-ing and Residential Education department.

Students generally agree that UNC has a great sense of community and that students are very inviting and kind. There is also a strong sense of diversity on campus.

In addition to the student body, the faculty also makes students proud to be a part of the universi-ty.

Despite UNC’s professors being among the lowest paid in the nation, they are still passionate about teaching and are engaged in the students’ learning.

“They really care about the students and want them to succeed,” Jurgens said.

UNC’s community also plays a big role and has become a crucial part of the university. The com-munity supports UNC and vice versa in promoting academics, athletics, activities and an overall good environment for the students.

“UNC has the whole package. It’s fun, I’m learn-ing a lot, the people and faculty are great and I love it here,” Coco said. So whether it’s for the students, faculty, com-munity or the whole package, UNC deserves to be celebrated for its 125 years of tradition and success as a wonderful school.

by Zach Blackburn125125125

4

StudentLifestyleSurviving the college years with

new friends and old. Photo by Natalie Stacker

Pets are a major part of our lives, serving as our companions and members of our family. Go-ing through withdrawals after having to leave

beloved pets behind for school is a common issue. However, a new policy for the 2014-15 school year has made it possible for students to attend school with their animals. Lawrenson Hall has made rooming with your pet allowed so Fluff y won’t be left behind. To many, this is a dream come true. But to others, it is a nightmare that has be-come a reality. Some people are dog people, others cat people. Some are even snake people, but others are not so keen on our four-legged—or no legged—com-panions. Most people would argue, “But they’re so cute!” Well yes, they are cute, but with cuteness comes responsibility. I love my cat and I miss her dearly, but that doesn’t mean I don’t remember all of the unpleas-ant times spent cleaning her litter box, her puke and other stains she left around the house, plus her hair covering every possible surface and all of the clothing and furniture she destroyed. It’s not just your pet you will be sharing your room with, it’s their odors and messes as well.

Not to mention, a dorm room is a very small and enclosed space, and your pet will be confi ned to it for hours while you are in class. This also makes for a boring and stressful environment for your poor companion. I don’t know about your pets, but mine would often leave a “present” on my bed or my fl oor if I left them locked up alone for too long. Many people around campus have no issue with pets being allowed in dorms, but they believe this policy should stay limited to only a few choice places, such as the fi rst two fl oors of Lawrenson like it is now, instead of being allowed everywhere. Not everyone wants their pet in their room with them. I live in Wilson, and those dorm rooms are tiny. And I mean tiny. I’m sure any roommate wouldn’t be too pleased with the smell. On top of that, the room you are in is only yours for that year, and after that, the people who live there after you are stuck with the leftovers from your stay there.

GRAB Your Umbrellaby Ye-In Morris

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs!

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Get Ready to DanceThe worst part about leaving home was saying

goodbye to my dog. My dachshund, Juliette, is and was one of my best friends. Sadly for

me, I couldn’t bring her. Apparently, Wiebking doesn’t allow pets. That’s too bad! Luckily for the people living on the fi rst and second fl oors of Lawrenson Hall, they can have their best friend by their side. This year, UNC is trying something new. They are experimenting to see how well having some “pet friendly communities” works. The school has chosen the fi rst two fl oors of Lawrenson Hall to test this. These pet owners have to really work to stay in this community. The owners are expected to use the dog run that has been constructed next to Lawrenson. Also, they are required to follow the campus-wide policy of leashing their animals when they go for walks. In the beginning of the year, they also have to pay some insurance for any damage to the room. “I believe this pet community is a really good opportunity to do something innovative that will benefi t students and provide a unique living and learning experience,” said Hannah Labelson, a

senior sociology major and the RA for the pet-friendly community. Preach it! I miss my dog terribly. I think that it would be more than worth it to rush back to my dorm be-tween classes just to let my pet out. I’m willing to follow the guidelines and pay the extra fee that pet owners in Lawrenson have to. Having my pet by my side is one of my favorite feelings. Amelia Pompey is a senior journalism major who has a rabbit named Pickles. If Pickles weren’t with Amelia at UNC, the rabbit would be at her mother’s house. No fun for Pickles! According to Corey Friend, the Lawrenson Hall director, this “experiment” is going really well. “What we’ve found is that our current group of pet friendly residents understand that this is a big deal. They’ve invested an incredible amount of time, a great amount of learning and even invested fi nancially in the community. Our students have stepped up to the doubters and nay-sayers, and have done so resoundingly.” I’m hoping that this pet friendly community ex-pands into something bigger for the students who want their best friends by their side.

by Anna Bohren

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs!

Photos by Ye-In Morris and Natalie Stacker

7

Breaking theSilence

by Laura Muff

When I was a little girl, my grandpa, Frankie, always would take me on tractor rides and tell my sister and me about the

wonders of the world. He always said that there is something special about each and every one of us. Everyone has trials which make us stronger. And everyone has triumphs that make life wonderful. He was absolutely correct. There is something special about me. I am living with a disability known as epilepsy. One of the biggest concerns for people with epilepsy and their families is how it aff ects our day to day life. Do I need to restrict my activity, and if so, how? Other concerns may arise such as how seizures may aff ect family life, other relationships, school, work or recreation. Coping with epilepsy is diff erent for everyone. Also, having a lot of seizures and taking seizure medications may aff ect how people think and feel and their ability to cope. After experiencing a few seizures, I can per-sonally say, “Don’t look at me diff erently.” I’ve also learned that I can’t live in a box or hide in a corner and think that if something happens no one can see, because it is very embarrassing being so vulnerable. I’ve learned that this is my life and that I can overcome anything; that I can go each day and live as if I am completely normal. But the thing about being “normal” is so boring. It has been quite an adventure with trials and triumphs, but if it has taught me anything, it is that this is my life and I’m going to make the most out of it. I guess the medicine I take has given me a pos-itive outlook because I have learned to accept this

disability. It is something I am honored to have. It was clearly given to me because the good Lord believes that I am strong enough to carry and live with epilepsy every day. It has truly made me stronger. I have come across people who absolutely hate me for being so positive and having such a supportive family and friends. Even the nurses and other health professionals tried to feel better about themselves by bullying me for my epilepsy. I learned to ignore those types of people because life is too short to not accept such a bless-ing. Life is what you make of it and this is my life. I’m going to make the most of it. We all come from diff erent places and all have diff erent backgrounds. Some of us are luckier than others. Some of us are Catholic, Jewish, American, African-American, Spanish, gay, lesbian, transgen-der, blind, deaf, developmentally disabled; yet so many diff erent aspects make each and every one of us special in our own unique way. So go out there, tell your stories, embrace who you are, live life to your fullest potential, go on an adventure and discover the unknown with the people you love. Don’t worry about the negative because some will adore you and some will hate everything about you. But who cares? It’s your life. Make the mostout of it.

Photo by Natalie Stacker

out of it.

8

ArtSceneCreators and creations of

Greeley’s artistic landscape.Photo by Natalie Stacker

will also perform at the Colora-do Music Educators Association conference in Colorado Springs the weekend of Jan. 28. Lab 1 has been ranked num-ber one among college jazz ensembles in the nation by Downbeat Magazine, a monthly magazine devoted to jazz culture in the United States, for eight of the last 10 years. Brenner said he would like to enrich the jazz program by getting more students involved in off -campus jazz events. “I would love to help any student that wants to learn more about jazz and learn more about how to get involved in the jazz community,” he said. “One of the ways is by getting involved in the Greeley jazz nights that we’ve started.” So get out there, support your fellow students and groove to some amazing music!

JazzJazzJazzUNC jazz

students have

made their mark—not just on Greeley, but on all of north-ern Colorado. Even in Fort

Collins, most of the places you hear jazz will involve UNC stu-dents. The jazz scene has also been building in Greeley. “These sessions are all about having a good time, supporting the community of Greeley, and the UNC community,” said Ken-yon Brenner, a master’s student of jazz studies with an emphasis in composition and tenor saxo-phone player. “We are trying to provide a welcoming experience for people to have a good time.” Greeley is notorious for its lack of activities off campus. Students are trying to fi x that. In reality, it’s just a matter of looking around and saying, “Instead of a party,

let’s go check out the bands downtown, go to an art exhibit or to a football game.” There are two major, stu-dent-run jazz nights in Greeley. Every other Wednesday night, students entertain at the Cran-ford Cove Tea Tavern and on alternating Thursday evenings they can be found in the Kress Cinema Lounge. These jam ses-sions last about two hours, but people can come and go during the event. “It’s great for students of any music level to play music togeth-er in a non-school setting,” said Tom Amend, a sophomore jazz studies major and jazz pianist. The jazz program is constantly expanding. In January they will make their mark nationally. Lab Band 1, UNC’s highest level jazz ensemble consisting mostly of graduate students, will be featured at the National Jazz Education Network Conference in San Diego on Jan. 8. The band

by Anna Bohren

Off - Campus

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Light inthe Dark Spaces

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On a hot Tuesday after-noon in a renovated garage on the edge of

downtown Greeley, magic is happening. Zach “Slive” Keiss, a Greeley resident and student at The Art Institute of Colorado, is transforming basic letters into works of art. Keiss has loved drawing for as long as he can remember. A passion for drawing cars quick-ly evolved into a skill for the stylized writing form commonly known as graffi ti. Keiss credits this transformation to his sister, who introduced him to the hip-hop scene and to the graffi ti artists who “tag” or write on train cars. Keiss was attracted to graffi -ti because of its unique style. “Graffi ti versus any other kind of art is more of a free form of expression; there is no real set rules,” Keiss said. “Basically,

for graffi ti, you want to lose the letter but keep the basic form of the letter.” For Keiss, art is all about personal expression. Graffi ti resonates with him because there aren’t rules to hold him back. While graffi ti doesn’t come with limits, there are ba-sic styles that artists typically use to classify themselves. Keiss is a “wild style” artist, meaning the letters he uses as the outline for his design can be layered, overlapping, complex and intricately wo-ven together. However, Keiss doesn’t stick strictly to this style. Because he is a graphic

design and web layout student at The Art Institute of Colorado, he adds graphic design ele-ments, such as typography and logos, to his pieces. Details like that help to set Keiss’ art apart from his fellow graffi ti artists, but there are other, larger factors that set

Keiss apart as an artist, too. Keiss, unlike many traditional graffi ti artists, won’t paint illegal-ly. The original boom of graffi ti on train cars has become a dying tradition, but defacing property with graffi ti is still alive and well. Just not for Keiss. One of the biggest struggles he has faced as an artist has been bringing his modern and sometimes controversial style to a conservative town like Greeley. Many people hold a negative opinion of graffi ti because of its traditionally illegal practice. This is, in part, why Keiss won’t do any of his art illegally. He sees graffi ti as something that can bring a city together, and he wants it to be something that people celebrate similarly to mainstream art. To change the minds of those who oppose his chosen style, Keiss has brought his art to the city of Greeley. Keiss has been featured at the Greeley Arts Pic-

Keiss presents the sketch and fi nal product of his mural in “The Garage” off of Eighth Avenue.

by Shelby Foster

12

nic and the University of North-ern Colorado’s “I am Hip-Hop” event, which is sponsored by the University Program Council at Café Panache. He also recently fi nished a piece commissioned by the Greeley Downtown Development Authority and the Greeley Art Commission in the alley between Eighth and Ninth streets. The DDA and the Greeley Art Commission teamed up to fund a mural project spanning the alley. They hired Keiss’ artistic mentor, Armando Silva, to man-age the project and to paint the fi rst mural: a sunglass-clad man playing transparent piano keys and looking up in artistic bliss. Silva mentors artists like Keiss through the proposal process and forming logistics for their murals. Silva shares the down-town garage studio space with Keiss and encouraged him to propose a mural. After six days of working on his most recent mural high above the ground, the scaff old-ing came down and Keiss’ piece was fi nished. His masterpiece of

Art Deco-style silhouettes, each with a diff erent colored background and instrument, sits wedged in two old window panes in the alleyway. “We love it,” said Pam Bricker, the executive director of the Greeley DDA. “All along, I always looked at the old fi lled-in windows and thought that silhou-ettes would be cool. The minute we saw what his concept was, we said it would be perfect for those windows. He took it from there, and it came out just wonderful.” While Keiss’ mural doesn’t depict his beloved graffi ti style, he sees it as a stepping-stone to gaining respect as a graffi ti artist. He said he believes creating ties to Greeley’s community will help open doors for graffi ti to create celebrations like the mural alley in the future. “I think it fi ts really well down-

town because he did a more Art Deco piece instead of a straight up graffi ti-style piece. This is a great breakout move for him,” Silva said. If you haven’t seen Keiss’ mu-ral or the mural alleyway, be sure to stop by the alleyway behind The Rio and soak in all the magic it has to off er.

was fi nished. His masterpiece of “I think it fi ts really well down-

Keiss’ Art Deco mural in the alley behind Stuft Burger Bar.

Keiss’ artistic representation of his artist name, “Slive.”

Photos by Natalie Stacker

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Hypnotic Vibes

From small jam sessions to performing for crowds, Hypnotic Vibes took the stage and won the hearts of many with their

melodic music and poetic lyrics. This alternative-reggae rock band has come a long way since starting from the bottom and working their way up to the top, but the sky is the limit for the members as they con-tinue to work toward greatness and impact people with their music. The founders of the band, Stefan Lopez and Joe Solano, shared the story of how Hypnotic Vibes came to be. Lopez and Solano knew each other in high school, but it wasn’t until their freshman year of college that they became friends. Both shared a love for music and would often hold informal practices together, playing guitar for fun and hanging out during the school year. When Solano returned from the Navy for their junior year, they became roommates. It was during this time that their simple jam sessions sparked something bigger. As their friendship developed, their passion for music grew even more. Even though neither had the

intention of starting a band, it was this mo-ment that eventually led to Hypnotic Vibes. They began experimenting with songwriting, starting out with clips then eventually writing full songs, some of which are featured on their first EP, including “Ladybug,” which started out as a poem Lopez wrote until Solano trans-formed it into a song. Solano is the main songwriter and Lopez is the lyricist. Lopez said it’s mainly Solano’s bass chord progressions and vocal melodies that give birth to a song. “Joe presents a skeleton to the band, and we add the flesh, the organs, the blood, the smile,” Lopez said. “This being starts going around and making impressions on others.” Lopez, with his literary background, pro-vides the lyrics that speak strongly in their songs and the other members of the band continue to add spice and character to their music. Those other members are Sterling Swan-son on trombone, Davis Williams on bass, Mario Alvarado on drums and Alex Vilanova

by Ye-In Morris and Tanner Brownlee

14

on trumpet. The Hypnotic Vibes family all share a deep love and dedication to music. Their goal is to change people’s way of thinking about the world along with how they feel, Solano said. He said the band wants to take hardships and turn them into something positive. Inspiration for their songs comes from sources like their favorite bands as well as past experiences. No matter what the experience was or what emotions they felt, their songs try to capture the essence of those events and to relate to others who share similar experiences. It’s not just about “feel-good” music. The journey has not been easy for the band. It has been full of roadblocks, pot-holes, hills and other blockades that all of the members have had to overcome. Having to juggle work, school and gigs in addition to trying to raise enough mon-ey to fully produce an album, the band has had its fair share of struggles, but they’ve worked through all of them together.

Though the journey has been a long one, band members say it’s been worth every step. They want their music to make people feel, to make them smile, to have an eff ect on the lives and moods of their listeners. None of it is about money or fame, they said, and none of the band members allow their egos to get out of hand. The music itself and the impact it has on people is all that matters. The release of their new EP is a huge stepping stone for the group, as it will fully introduce the world to the magic that is Hypnotic Vibes. “Our fi rst EP on a scale of one to 10 was a one,” Lopez said. “Our new EP is going to be a 10.” Fans can expect to hear the familiar chilled out music of the band and heartfelt lyrics with some new aspects mixed in.

“Peace, Love and Good Vibes.”Hypnotic Vibes

Photos by Ye-In Morris

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Introducing Dan Obluda. Talking about UNC pride, this man takes the cake. He not only completed his bachelor’s at the

University of Northern Colorado, but he complet-ed his master’s here and has taught music classes at UNC for four years. Obluda was raised in Arvada. He attended Arvada West High School before coming to Greeley. “One of the greatest things about UNC is that there are so many good things happening in such a small area,” Obluda said. Obluda is a percussionist and has played for 13 years. He said his favorite percussion instrument is the timpani, though that’s far from all he plays. “It’s not about playing one instrument, it’s about playing several.” That, he said, is why he loves being a percussionist. Along with percus-sion, he plays piano. Outside of the classroom, Obluda can most likely be found outdoors. His favorite way to exercise is to ride his bike. He said his favorite thing to do on campus is watching students have fun, whether that’s going to a concert, gallery or

football game. While working on his graduate degree, he served as a photographer for UNC’s student newspaper, The Mirror. His motive behind work-ing for The Mirror was having full access to cam-pus events. Obluda said he believes it’s import-ant to attend these events.

“Even if you don’t think you will like it, just go,” he said. “You forget how tal-ented the people around you are.” His advice to young stu-dents is to fi gure out how

to manage time. He said that by spending fi ve minutes per day thinking about what needs to be done, the day will overall be more productive. He also said he believes that the day needs to include putting down the textbooks to walk to a coff ee shop or lie in the grass and read. Kyle Cervantes, a freshman jazz studies major, said Obluda helped him to make the jump from high school to college an easier transition be-cause he relates to his students. And most students would agree, Obluda is relatable.

He’s loud, he’s out there and he’s teaching music.

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“His style of teaching is easy to latch on to,” Cer-vantes said. “Which is good since he’s teaching an incredibly hard subject.” One of his favorite phrases is, “If you get it, great! If you don’t, great!” Obluda’s advice to older students is to not as-sume you know everything you need to know. He advises the importance of mastering the ba-sics, whether they are the fundamentals of music theory, grammar or even mathematic time-tables. Understanding the basics is essential to both aca-demic and daily life. His advice to every student is to enjoy the fact that you’re not in high school anymore. “It doesn’t matter what you like,” Obluda said. “As long as you like it, that’s all that matters.” In other words, go for your dream career! His students also credit him with giving them motivation for their music studies. “I came into college not knowing very much about music, and I think if I had not had him as a teacher, I might not have stuck in the music pro-gram,” said Morgan Overley, a sophomore vocal performance major. Having that kind of long-term impact on a student’s musical career is important to Obluda, he

said. He works hard to connect with students and to communicate his passion for music. He helps build the skills that students need to be successful. He plays an instrumental role in helping students understand what they need to know. The words that inspire Obluda most are, “A painter paints a picture on a canvas, but musicians paint their pictures on silence,” a famous quote from Leopold Stokowski. He said that quote cap-tures the challenge of making every note and beat count against the background of silence. “All of the things that this university is able to draw to it is neat,” he said. He said he enjoys all the diff erent performances off ered at UNC and the opportunities that come from being surrounded by so much music. Most importantly, he said, his students make the university such a great experience. If he can help them keep their passion for music alive, he knows that he has accomplished something. “My goal is to show students what’s out there. It’s ultimately up to the student to fi gure out what they like.”

Photo by Anna Bohren

by Anna Bohren

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Photos by Natalie Stacker

OnCampusA tour of campus sights,

sounds and scenes.Photo by Natalie Stacker

Studying abroad can be a wonderful experi-ence. It allows students to experience other cultures and societies.

To students in the United States, American culture is normal and American surroundings are familiar. But to others, the U.S. is a foreign land filled with unfamiliar experiences. Though the journey is incredible and is a chance to meet lifelong friends and make memories, it can also be frightening. Some of the foreign exchange students at UNC shared what studying in the Unit-ed States is like through their eyes. The University of Northern Colorado has a wide variety of students visiting from South Korea, Ger-many, China and France, among others. All chose to come to the University of Northern Colorado due to its reputation in their areas of study such as busi-ness, education and English. Youngki Cha and Yoonsil Chang from South Korea, Qian Zang from China, Sarah Zweers from Germany and Fatos Llabjani from France shared what it is like to study abroad in America in contrast with their homelands. From shocking portion sizes,

outlandish drinking ages and a surprising lack of umbrellas, the American experience is more un-usual than people might think. Things considered to be part of everyday life are oddities to those from a different country. “One of the things that I’m really looking for-ward to is actually getting to lie in the grass and take a nap,” said Cha, who was surprised by the lack of “keep off the grass” signs. Having come from a condensed city like Seoul, where open spaces are rare, seeing a massive open field of grass that anyone could run around on whenever they wanted was like being a child in a toy store. Chang said she was surprised by how vast and open the landscape was, since the state of Colora-do is larger than all of South Korea. Seeing people walking around in the rain without an umbrella was also a shock to students native to South Korea. Here, rain is clean water fall-ing from the sky. In South Korea, however, no one goes out in a shower without an umbrella due to the acid rain caused by the country’s pollution. The friendliness of people at UNC was also a

Stepping Onto Fresh Soil...

Studying Abroad in the United Statesby Ye-In Morris

20

common and pleasant surprise. “In Paris, even if you are lost, nobody will bother to help, so you better have a map,” Llabjani said. Chang said she was also pleased with how willing people were to help her despite it being sometimes diffi cult due to the language barrier. “When I was at the library the lady there was so nice,” Chang said. “She had no problem with helping to fi nd what I needed even though it took forever.” The language barrier is a common roadblock for visiting students. The problem is not so much with understanding English, but with certain interactions, phrases and slang people use in the U.S. To them, it is very strange if someone were to say hello in passing. Such random and abrupt interaction is uncommon where they come from. Many foreign students also fi nd it strange how high the drinking age is in the U.S. Here, turning 18 gets people stuck in an awkward position where they are legally an adult but not allowed to go to a bar and order a drink for another three years. In countries like France and Germany, the legal age is 18, and minors as young as 16 are allowed to drink in their own homes. There, alcohol is introduced at a young age so many were surprised to see so many college students making a huge deal out of getting their hands on it when they could. What did they expect to happen while studying abroad at UNC? “Getting fat!” Zweers said. She said America in general has outrageous portion sizes. “I’m not saying the food here is bad, but I’m from France,” Llabjani joked. After being surrounded by fi ne dining restaurants, it was unexpected to sudden-ly be confronted with choices such as Taco Bell and McDonald’s. Even though their experience has been diff erent and sometimes stressful, all of them said they have enjoyed their short time here and look forward to the rest of the year. Every day, there are new sights to see, new people to meet and new memories to be made.

Stepping Onto Fresh Soil... Qian Zang from China

Yoonsil Chang from South Korea

Sarah Zweers from Germany

Youngki Cha from South Korea

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orris

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Adjusting the Scope:

A Different Angle on Campusby Katy East

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What really matters about a college campus is how each individual student can make a con-

nection with it. Everyone has their own diff erent angle and their own unique perspective. When it really comes down to it, the personal connections made, the relationships forged and the overall impressions left on each student are un-mistakably linked to the locations on campus that individuals encounter. Unfortunately, it is extremely diffi cult for stu-dents to realize the impact their campus has on them while they are actually in college. With the countless classes, clubs, sports, jobs, homework and more, it’s easy to pass right by the things that make the college experience unique to each student. Hours are always spent in vapid ac-tion or locked away in a dark room trying to make up for lost hours of sleep. The places that students see and experience everyday become foggy, with only small remnants of the mystifying structures ev-eryone experienced on their very fi rst campus tour. Take a moment now to picture the one area of campus that really struck you on your very fi rst visit, or even your fi rst day of class. Envision the great views, the unique architecture and anything else that reached out to you personally. Chances are, this area of campus is one that you either walk past or have class in every single day. You either ignore it or don’t notice the same things that completely entranced you the fi rst time you saw it. The aspects of campus that speak to each indi-vidual do not change; what changes is the student’s perspective. If you take time now to be mindful of your surroundings, your appreciation and gratitude for campus will grow. Take time out of each day to enjoy the beauti-ful campus at UNC. Your time here is very short, whether it seems like it or not. There are countless views that only the students who attend this uni-versity get to experience each and every day. Don’t let it slip away unnoticed. Take a new perspective, a diff erent angle on campus. Adjust your scope.

Photos by Natalie Stacker

Mariani GalleryBrought to you by a former UNC student, Charlotte Nichols presents unique sculptural designs, all created from brass and copper. Nichols incorporates commonly held ideals—courage, empathy and tolerance—into her pieces. Viewers will not forget the sights of the sculptures created by Nichols. For nearly two months, you will be able feast your eyes upon the wonders of Nichols’ work!

PVA Preview

The UNC College of Performing and Visual Arts always gives viewers a stupendous show, including dance, art, design and theater. Here is a sample of what the upcoming season at UNC has to off er.

October 27-December 9

Union Colony Civic Center Monfort Concert HallThe UCCC features University Bands—a program that will showcase three UNC ensembles. Discover the raw talent UNC students have to off er at these events! You may fi nd yourself baffl ed that students at UNC possess such musical abilities. With only the best of the best, the UNC@UCCC series will please your ears! February 17 at 7:00 p.m. April 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Langworthy TheatreFeaturing the age-old dilemma of child versus parent, Children of Eden will connect with the audience’s hearts and develop a personal connection. Starring Adam, Eve, Noah and Father, each come to making brutal decisions that will aff ect their lives. The themes of family, love and diffi cult choices will strike close to home, making Children of Eden all the more relatable to viewers’ personal lives. March 4, 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. March 8 at 2 p.m.

Langworthy TheatreShowcasing intricate dance routines, Ladies First highlights the beauty, precision and creativity of an all-female cast. The works in Ladies First are designed entirely by professional female choreographers. In 2014, the Spring Dance show featured only male performers. However, in 2015, the ladies take the stage, ensuring delight and sentiment from the crowd. April 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m.

In addition, be sure to pledge your support for Arts at UNC. And remember, UNC has events year-round!

Charlotte Nichols—Metalsmith

University Bands

Children of Eden

Ladies First

by Amy Yoelin

Photos courtesy of the College of Performing and Visual Arts24

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